Cornbread Festival Bass
Event Lands "Mr. B.A.S.S."

Ray Scott named weighmaster
for Tennessee Tournament at
National Cornbread Cook-Off...

SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tennessee - Lip smackin' chunks of southern-style cornbread serve as the lure for folks attending the National Cornbread Festival, but bass anglers have something to look forward to besides hush-puppies during the April 25-28 celebration.

The Cornbread Bass Tournament, April 27th, will launch the weekend party. "We're excited about this year's tournament and our weigh-in master-of-ceremonies," said tournament chairman Alan Kirk.

"Ray Scott, known around the world as Mr. B.A.S.S., has agreed to be our special weighmaster," explained Kirk.

"As the founder of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) and the creator of the Bassmaster Tournament Trail, Ray Scott is the 'kingfish' of bass tournament weigh-ins," according to Kirk.

Six years ago this town of 2,000 folks, located 25 miles west of Chattanooga, Tennessee, decided to pay tribute and honor the famous staple of Southern cuisine: cornbread.

Thousands of visitors liked the idea. It's part rock concert. Part family carnival and all Southern hospitality.

The town's main street, Cedar Avenue, is blocked off for the Mayor's welcome, street dance and carnival. There's arts and crafts. Bluegrass, rock and country music. The world famous "Cornbread Eating Contest," where five contestants - selected at large - try for the goal…to eat a six-inch round of cornbread first.

"The catch is you can't drink anything during the cornbread eat-off," says Kirk. "But, afterwards, we'll have a 'Buttermilk Chugging Contest' that's a hoot to watch."

The centerpiece of the festival is the National Cornbread Cook-Off sponsored by Lodge Manufacturing of South Pittsburg, the world's leader in cast iron cookware, and Martha White Cornmeal.

"Last year over 800 (main dish) recipes were submitted from all over the country from which to select the ten finalists," points out Kirk.

The Five Star Division of Brown Stove Works provides stainless steel ranges, set up on Main Street, for the national cook-off judged by the Southeast's top food writers.

"With all this true-grit cornbread tasting, you'd expect us to have a fish fry at the bass tournament," says Alan Kirk, "but the fish are released alive after the weigh-in."

Tournament rules are a five bass limit with fishing permitted on Nickajack Lake or Guntersville Lake. Artificial lures only, no live bait. An 8-ounce penalty will be deducted for dead bass checked-in.

"We'll have a golden rule to insure fair play and honesty of bass weighed-in," said Kirk. "All contestants agree in advance to take a polygraph test if they win."

Anglers will fish as two-man teams. Entry fee is $100 per boat. The five bass team limit can include largemouth, spotted bass and smallmouth. The minimum size limit is 15 inches and a special 18-inches length limit for smallmouth bass.

"The new size restriction on smallmouth bass also is one 18-inch or larger smallmouth per angler, per day," points out Kirk.

"A two-man team could weigh-in two smallmouth," notes Kirk, "and some teams may lock into Nickajack Lake to fish for the big smallmouth coming from the lake."

All Cornbread Bass Tournament contestants must have a Tennessee fishing license. The tournament weigh-in will begin at 3:30 p.m. in downtown South Pittsburg. Take Exit 152 off Interstate-24, west of Chattanooga.

For entry forms and information on the National Cornbread Bass Tournament, contact: Alan Kirk, Tournament Chairman, 912 Highland Ave., Jasper, TN 37347 or Ph (423) 942-7380.

As a sidebar to the National Cook-off, visiting celebrities cook their favorite cornbread recipe for fun and charity.

"We're hoping Ray Scott will grease up his cast iron skillet and compete," added Kirk. "I understand he's a pretty good hushpuppy cook. I know Ray claims his special Reel Good Chow-Chow fixin's will make your tongue wag and is a hit piled on his skillet-made cornbread."

Scott of Pintlala, Alabama started the bass tournament craze in June 1967 with his All-American Invitational Tournament at Beaver Lake, Arkansas. From 106 entries, Scott built the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) into a worldwide membership of 650,000 anglers and created the professional Bassmaster Tournament Trail.

Now, as president of Ray Scott Outdoors, Inc., Scott's marketing group provides services for the fishing tackle and marine industry. He is national spokesman for TRITON Boats, Mercury Outboards, MotorGuide Trolling Motors, and SOS, Inc., the manufacturers for SOSPENDERS, the U. S. Coast Guard approved inflatable life vests.

The National Cornbread Festival has been named among the "top 100 events in North America" by the American Bus Association. For information, contact: National Cornbread Festival, P O Box 247, South Pittsburg, TN 37380, Ph (423) 837-0022 or see their website: www.nationalcornbread.com.